Why Does Auburn Have 2 Mascots? I Would Like To Know The Story

[rolltide5590]

Why Does Auburn Have 2 Mascots? I Would Like To Know The Story

[uscballer101]

AUtiger explained this in a thread about a month ago...But Ill let him explain, I remember the story but could never get it right...

[JerryBeeds]

I don't know I've always wondered that myself...

[uscballer101]

It has to do with an Auburn student during the civil war and he had a pet eagle named war eagle maybe? and all the fans got to know the bird or something and one day it flew off and everyone yelled "war eagle!" or something like that...I didnt do the story justice...

[uscballer101]

um Im a gamecock, I was just trying to be nice and answer your question...

[rolltide5590]

i kno usc i was talking to the tigers of the world...not you silly goose lol

[JerryBeeds]

Haha... You called baller a silly goose... I haven't heard anyone say that in a long time. :D

[autiger1126]

to all bammers out there, how is roll tide any different than saying war eagle? I'll find the story i posted and post it here

[autiger1126]

Here's the story:

There's a popular misconception among fans and the media that Auburn University has three nicknames -- Tigers, War Eagles and Plainsmen (see sidebar). So let's set the record straight: When an Auburn fan rears back and bellows "War-r-r-r-r Eagle!" he's not referring to the school's only official nickname (Tigers), or even its primary mascot (a costumed Tiger named Aubie). Instead, he's repeating a battle cry whose origins stretch back to a Civil War legend -- and whose emblem is a spectacular golden eagle that reigns over the Auburn sideline.
No one can say for sure how much of the following tale is true. But in a region with a rich tradition of storytelling, it's only fitting that such a defining element of Auburn football would be so rooted in lore and legend.

The year: 1864. The place: northern Virginia, at the Civil War's Battle of the Wilderness. An Auburn student, fighting with the Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee, was wounded and given up for dead on the battlefield.

As he gathered his wits and surveyed the carnage surrounding him, the only living thing he saw was a wounded baby eagle. He gathered up the bird and took it with him, and the pair convalesced together. After the war, the eagle accompanied the soldier back to Auburn, where the latter resumed his studies and eventually joined the faculty. His "war eagle" soon became a fixture on the campus.

Then, on February 20, 1892, the eagle's -- and the battle cry's -- day of destiny arrived, as the Auburn and Georgia football teams squared off for the first time ever in what has become the South's oldest rivalry. The former soldier and his eagle joined the throng in attendance at Atlanta's Piedmont Park.

The game quickly became a defensive struggle, until at last Auburn broke through with a touchdown. Suddenly, amid the celebration, the eagle escaped the grasp of his owner and took wing over the gridiron. And spontaneously the Auburn faithful broke into shouts of "War Eagle! War Eagle!"

The Tigers went on to win the game 10-0. Unfortunately, the celebratory aerials were apparently too much for the aging eagle, who took ill and died as the contest concluded. But a battle cry had been born.

Since then, five different golden eagles have worn the mantle of "War Eagle" at the school. The latest, War Eagle VI, assumed her post at the renewal of the Auburn-Georgia rivalry on Nov. 15, 1986.

And like her predecessors, she's named -- what else? -- Tiger.

[autiger1126]

what's the story behind roll tide, I'd like to know?

[jneesy]

heres the crimson tide story

How the Crimson Tide Got its Name

In early newspaper accounts of Alabama football, the team was simply listed as the "varsity" or the "Crimson White" after the school colors.

The first nickname to become popular and used by headline writers was the "Thin Red Line." The nickname was used until 1906.

The name "Crimson Tide" is supposed to have first been used by Hugh Roberts, former sports editor of the Birmingham Age-Herald. He used "Crimson Tide" in describing an Alabama-Auburn game played in Birmingham in 1907, the last football contest between the two schools until 1948 when the series was resumed. The game was played in a sea of mud and Auburn was a heavy favorite to win.

But, evidently, the "Thin Red Line" played a great game in the red mud and held Auburn to a 6-6 tie, thus gaining the name "Crimson Tide." Zipp Newman, former sports editor of the Birmingham News, probably popularized the name more than any other writer.

[rhea]

i have a question for you autiger...i heard that the eagle (tiger) or maybe the tiger before her had gotten sick and they thought she/he might die...then that y'all had her/him under constant care and she is now ok. this might be a rumor but i thought my brother told me this and he is a die hard AU fan. anyway, is there any truth to this and if so do you know what Tiger was sick with?

[autiger1126]

The eagle was sick for awhile. I'm not sure what was wrong with her, I think it was some sort of virus. However, she is better now, and she flew in a few games this year after her health improved.

[rhea]

yeah, i knew she wasn't flying for awhile there, that's how Clay (my brother) and i got into the conversation...regaurdless, i am glad she is back in good health...AU fan or not she is still an animal and we want her well...lol.

one more question (sorry to bother you with the questions but i am curious) do y'all have just one eagle or several...ive heard both but from what you've said im inclinded to think y'all just have the one.

either way, im glad Tiger is healthy and i hope she flies strong next year...ROLL TIDE, war eagle :D

[nooneLT]

what i heard is that tiger got the west nile virus. but then he recovered or something

[rhea]

what i heard is that tiger got the west nile virus. but then he recovered or something
yeah, i don't think it was west nile...

[autiger1126]

Tiger originally stopped flying because it had arthritic symptoms, and another bird, Spirit was flying for awhile. However, Tiger and Spirit were infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum. It is an organism that killed 12 birds at the raptor center. There are three eagles that work with Auburn, Tiger, 26 years old, Spirit, 7 years old, and Nova, 5 years old. The eagles don't fly in the beginning of the seasons because of the hot weather, but it is determined whether they fly or not on a game by game situation. Mid-season last year was the first time they flew since 2003.

[Noah.Dreams]

How did Alabama's mascot become the elephant?

The story that I've been told is that the football team always used a local trucking company to ship equipment to the games. The trucking company's logo was an elephant, which was represented on each of their trucks. Eventually, everyone began to associate the elephant with the University of Alabama.

[jneesy]

ask and you will recieve

The Elephant Story

The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team.

On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. Strupper wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I have ever seen. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes.

"Coach Wade started his second team that was plenty big and they went right to their knitting scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against one of the best fighting small lines that I have seen. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground.

"At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity.

"It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size."

Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys.

The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions.

[nooneLT]

How did Alabama's mascot become the elephant?

The story that I've been told is that the football team always used a local trucking company to ship equipment to the games. The trucking company's logo was an elephant, which was represented on each of their trucks. Eventually, everyone began to associate the elephant with the University of Alabama.

http://www.rolltide.com/Traditions/5457.asp

The Elephant Story

Elephant Head LogoThe story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team.

On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. Strupper wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I have ever seen. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes.

"Coach Wade started his second team that was plenty big and they went right to their knitting scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against one of the best fighting small lines that I have seen. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground.

"At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity.

"It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size."

Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys.

The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions.

[jneesy]

ha ha beat you to it


hehe

[GamecocksRule]

I am really glad I looked at this thread..I have been wondering forever why Auburn and Alabama had different mascots/sayings for their schools. Pretty cool stories :cool:

[rebeldude]

Well while we're discussing mascots, let me tell you the story about our mascot.

WE DON'T HAVE ONE!!!! HA

[KatDaddy]

I wont bore you all with the cowbell story and the history behind it... if someone wants to know I'll tell though.

[nooneLT]

Well while we're discussing mascots, let me tell you the story about our mascot.

WE DON'T HAVE ONE!!!! HA

dude colonel reb was awesome :/

ha ha beat you to it


hehe

bastard :/

[jneesy]

col reb was DA BOMB.........RIP

[rebeldude]

dude colonel reb was awesome :/



bastard :/

Was awsome is correct.

[rebeldude]

I wont bore you all with the cowbell story and the history behind it... if someone wants to know I'll tell though.

I'm from Mississippi I know all about the cow bell, Tell your story I'm sure it's interesting.

[KatDaddy]

I was always told that the first few years we played you guys, Ole Miss whooped the dog &&^% out of us... well, like the 4th or 5th year, the game had to be stopped to chase a cow off the field that had gotten loose and ran on the field. As both teams chased the cow off the field, "Bessy's" bell was clanging and ringing all over the place. Finally got the cow off the field and State beat Ole Miss for the first time, and the cowbell has been a symbol of luck ever since.

Im interested to see if the story about "Hotty Toddy" can be found though... I'd like to know about it too.

EDIT: Yeah the Colonial was awesome! I miss him as well. I remember we almost got in trouble one year cause we were marching out ont he field and he came out there and someone knocked the stew out of him.

[Cianne]

Whatever..why dont you bama fans explain why you are the crimson tide and have an elephant as a mascot

You resurrected this thread and didn't even bother to read it?

[GeauxTo]

You resurrected this thread and didn't even bother to read it?
Tell us, Ole Miss dudes, what does HOTTY TODDY mean and how did it originate? Does it in any way relate to hoity-toity (pretentious, self-important, pompous; or, given to frivolity or silliness)??
:p

[Cianne]

Tell us, Ole Miss dudes, what does HOTTY TODDY mean and how did it originate? Does it in any way relate to hoity-toity (pretentious, self-important, pompous; or, given to frivolity or silliness)??
:p

The Traditions part of Ole Miss' Rivals website says:

The exact origin of Hotty Toddy is not known and appears to be a cheer developed from the 1930s.

I Google'd it and saw a post from a MSU joke board that said hoity-toity, but I really can't find anything else.

[BeeDee]

The Traditions part of Ole Miss' Rivals website says:



I Google'd it and saw a post from a MSU joke board that said hoity-toity, but I really can't find anything else.

There used to be a good writeup about it on the Rivals site, but the link is dead. It said, basically, that students came up with the cheer back in the 20's or 30's and that Hotty Toddy was a mocking version of the phrase "hoity toity" in response to Ole Miss students and alumni being called 'hoity toity' by students and fans of rival schools. No definite history there though. Just one of those things that has been around for a long time and has stuck.

This same article, by the way, said that the name Ole Miss does NOT refer to the "mistress of the plantation" , who was called "ole miss" back in the slave days, but refers instead to the name of the school as in (Good) Ole(old) Miss(Mississippi).

[JerryBeeds]

The Traditions part of Ole Miss' Rivals website says:



I Google'd it and saw a post from a MSU joke board that said hoity-toity, but I really can't find anything else.
I started a thread about this some months back. If you search the Ole Miss archives you will find it. There were some good explanations in that thread.

[Cianne]

I started a thread about this some months back. If you search the Ole Miss archives you will find it. There were some good explanations in that thread.

Actually that came up on Google too and all I read was USCRebel's post about finding a guy another Rebel on the west coast or something.

[GeauxTo]

The Traditions part of Ole Miss' Rivals website says:



I Google'd it and saw a post from a MSU joke board that said hoity-toity, but I really can't find anything else.
Older folks used to say, when going out for a drink, "Let's go get a toddy." Maybe that fits in somehow.
;)

[KnoxNicky]

What about Plainsmen? Is that a nickname coming from the "outside", something like sports writers using it, or was it in any way an official name?

[Cianne]

Older folks used to say, when going out for a drink, "Let's go get a toddy." Maybe that fits in somehow.
;)

Shoot got me there. Ask the resident old Ole Miss fan about that one :D

[Foxman]

What about Plainsmen? Is that a nickname coming from the "outside", something like sports writers using it, or was it in any way an official name?

Plainsmen?
:confused:
Who are the Plainsmen?

[BeeDee]

Plainsmen?
:confused:
Who are the Plainsmen?

Auburn is on the "Plains" of Alabama, hence the nickname "Plainsmen".

[nooneLT]

Plainsmen?
:confused:
Who are the Plainsmen?

think the auburn newspaper is called the auburn plainsmen? lol not sure

[KRIEGER]

Wow, look at how the Auburn and Alabama fans were so civilized back in mid '05. It's astonishing. I think the only fuel added to my fire is simply BAMAPERRY. For every post I see of his, I made an exact opposite. :D

I'll try to do better now. :closedeye

:)

[the Prodigy]

I'll save anyone who wants to know the trouble. "How did the Hog Call come to be? Where did Woo Pig Sooie Come From?"

Answer: No one knows.

[KRIEGER]

Lol, seriously? What's up with that.

[gatorunvrsty]

This was an extremely informative thread... for the most part. I always thought Auburn got themselves a new mascot after AU alumnus Walter Riggs ran off with the nickname and paw print, and gave it to Clemson.;)

[the Prodigy]

Lol, seriously? What's up with that.

Really.... I think it was like a family of drunken hill people who got a hold of some seats and just wouldn't stop doing it.... And then the guys in the leather helmets looked up and said, "Eh, Alright, that works!"

[Tider27]

This was an extremely informative thread... for the most part. I always thought Auburn got themselves a new mascot after AU alumnus Walter Riggs ran off with the nickname and paw print, and gave it to Clemson.;)

Even more of a reason as to why we must break Clemson. :D

[TigerEyes1914]

Another reason why Clemson is going to man-handle UA. :D

[Tider27]

Another reason why Clemson is going to man-handle UA. :D

The only man-handling that will be done in Atlanta is our DL against their OL. It's going to be a massacre in the trenches, you heard it here first.

[WDavE]

Plainsmen:


The nickname “Tigers” comes from a line in Oliver Goldsmith’s
poem, “The Deserted Village,” published in May 1770, “where crouching
tigers wait their hapless prey…”
The term “Plainsmen” comes from a line in that same Goldsmith
poem, “Sweet Auburn, loveliest (sic) village of the plain…” Since
Auburn athletes were, in the early days, men from the Plains, it was only
natural for newspaper headline writers to shorten that to “Plainsmen.”